Vacay?

Am I on vacation? Not really. I've been very busy, preparing for a big show the end of September! I will post some pictures later when it happens. For now, no blogging! Maybe after the 27th!

Visit my facebook page for the event address and dates:

http://www.facebook.com/PruittCreations

Movies, old or new?

My husband is a movie fanatic! He's got a huge collection from VHS to DVD. His taste in movies is not my taste. Last night he was watching a war movie from the 60's with Steve McQueen, Fess Parker, and Bobby Darin. I'd prefer to be watching something like You've Got Mail or Sabrina. Actually, I'd prefer even the older versions of either of these movies. Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail (1998), with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan was a remake of a movie called Shop Around the Corner (1940) with Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. The Sabrina movie originally starred Humphry Bogart, Audry Hepburn and William Holden in 1954, but I really loved the newer version (1995) with Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear, and Harrison Ford. I thought Julia Ormond was just beautiful and she was dressed in that gorgeous party gown.

I know that I am in the minority, loving old movies, but I just want to be entertained when I spend two hours watching a movie! How about you? What is your favorite?

Yesteryear---French Seams and Christening

Seems as though some things about vintage culture have been lost. We are recovering some of the culture, especially the clothing, thru a keen desire of younger people to reclaim the styles and actual clothing of yesteryear. You commonly see people wearing the old clothes, and buying the old styles at thrift stores etc.








One type of vintage clothing, I fear, is a lost art. What type, you say? How about the christening gown worn by infants at the religious ceremony to be christened or baptised. They were long gowns, usually white, for either boys or girls, made for, or purchased especially for the ceremony. These were cherished for years by the entire family, and sometimes handed down from generation to generation. My husband still has his, which was bought for him by his fraternal grandmother. I fear that this tradition has been lost, because religion is cast away so easily in today's generation. Regardless of the transitions, these gowns were a work of art with all their tucked yoke sections, french seams,chambray or voile fabrics, eyelet or lace edgings, and embroidery work and ribbon.

My husband's gown, which was used by one of his daughters, is of a somewhat transparent fabric and so has a charming lightly embroidered slip made of the matching fabric. I would show it to you but my camera is still broken. I have to use the pictures that I have in my file. (For those who are interested, the following is a general tutorial of how to make a simple christening gown.)

The pattern is relatively easy with a yoke front and back pieces and a skirt front and back rectangular section. Small tucks are sewn first before the yoke is cut out. Then after cutting, the yoke pieces are sewn together at the shoulder. Edges are finished with a whip stitch and a pretty edging (lace, etc.) The tucks in the skirt are also sewn first. Embellishes of ribbon, lace, or eyelet are added after the side and back seams are sewn. Ribbon can be threaded thru the eyelet. Bottom seam is finished with desired trim. Gather the skirt section and attach to the yoke. Finish the back opening and the arm holes with a 1/4 seam, hand whipped. To finish you can add several crocheted chain loops for button holes and attach some pretty tiny round pearl buttons. Also, you can add a pastel ribbon bow to the front yoke seam for a sweet finish.

Holiday Weekend!

In the United States, this weekend is the Labor Day weekend holiday. This holiday was a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Most everyone has Monday off; so, when people get off work on Friday (as early as possible) they head to the mountains to go camping, to the beach for one last day in the sun before school, or make plans to have family and friends over for barbecue! I just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday, and ask y'all to be safe when traveling the congested roadways! Have fun!

Leave a comment about your plans! I'd like to hear about the differences. It will be fun!

September? Already?

It doesn't seem right. September already? Here in Oregon, we've barely had any summer. One short hot spell, the rest was really nice. I liked it, but some others, here, would have preferred a warmer summer. And in actuality, my garden would have done better with some more heat. My tomatoes and peppers are heat loving plants, and although they are on my patio and get the most sun there, it was, generally still too cool for them this summer. After this last heat wave in the end of August, I finally got some ripe veggies! This is what I picked today, the first crop of the summer and summer is almost over!!!

Had some of these peppers in a vegetable dish for supper. It was my daughter's recipe. She has a great little blog that you should visit. http://housewifechef.blogspot.com/

I'm sure she'll post this recipe soon. Until then, check out the other recipes that she has.

Almost Wordless Wednesday!

This post is ALMOST wordless, because I have to announce a winner to my little craft show comment contest. (See previous post.) All the comments were helpful to me and I am looking forward to using them in my show season. By a random drawing, the first post has become the winner! That's Margaret of SplendidLittleStars! Yay! Margaret! Expect a package in the mail!

Now for the wordless Wednesday post--Little Ada Margaret (is that something of a coincidence?) my 24th grandchild!